Day 3: My First Love

I distinctly remember the days when carving your initials and the initials of someone you "loved" inside a heart were cool.  One day, when I was somewhere between 9 and 10, I came to my mom with a picture of a heart with two sets of initials inside.  One set of initials were mine, HW, and then the other set belonged to an unknown persons with the initials JC.  My mom glanced at it briefly and then with a serious expression on her face asked who the other Person was.  Quickly I responded, "Jesus Christ!". :)

Ever since I can remember my parents have been diligent in instilling a desire in me to know Jesus more.  I can honestly say that Jesus is and always will be my first love.  The stories of the Bible were not just fairy tales to me they were real.  Thanks to my parents' godly example I grew up seeing the reality of Jesus in action in their lives and soon began to seek Him for myself.  How true are the Scriptures which say, "If you seek Him you will find Him, if you search with all your heart."
I thank my Lord and Savior for His goodness and grace towards me!

Learning to delight in Jesus,
Hannah    

Day 2: Meaning of my blog name

One of my all time favorite verses is Psalm 37:4, "Delight thyself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart."  As a young lady speaking to other young ladies I felt it was important to stress our relationship with the Lord.  When our relationship with Him is right, when we delight in Him in our daily lives, our relationship with others is right (especially in regards to relationships with young men).  As my pastor likes to say "We must have the proper "uplook" if we're going to have the proper outlook".  Growing up this verse was ironically on several journals and cards given to me.  I felt the Lord really grab hold of my heart with this verse in particular when I was young so I wanted this to be a constant reminder as I grew older.

Well, there you have it :).
Learning to delight in Jesus,
Hannah 

30 Day Blog Challenge

I just logged into my blogger account and was considering what to write about when I saw a friend's recent post.  I believe I'm going to join her on this 30 day blogging challenge!  Let's see who finishes first, Maddie :).
Here are what the next 30 posts will be about:

Day 1-Introduce, recent picture, 15 interesting facts

Day 2-Meaning behind your blog name

Day 3-Your first love

Day 4-Your parents

Day 5-Your siblings

Day 6-A picture of something that makes you happy

Day 7-Favorite movies

Day 8-A place you've traveled to

Day 9-A picture of your friends

Day 10-Something you're afraid of

Day 11-Favorite tv shows

Day 12-What you believe

Day 13-Goals

Day 14-A picture you love

Day 15-Bible verse

Day 16-Dream house

Day 17-Something you're looking forward to

Day 18-Something you regret

Day 19-Something you miss

Day 20-Nicknames

Day 21-Picture of yourself

Day 22-Favorite city

Day 23-Favorite vacation

Day 24-Something you've learned

Day 25-Put your iPod on shuffle, first 10 songs

Day 26-Picture of your family

Day 27-Pets

Day 28-Something that stresses you out

Day 29-3 Wishes

Day 30-A picture 

So, Day 1; introduction, recent picture, and 15 interesting facts
Intro: I think most of you already know a little bit about me from my Who Am I page but here's a little more.
Recent picture:

Me at the beach 2 months ago enjoying lunch!

15 interesting facts:
1. Right now I'm sitting in a T-shirt, jammie pants, and with my hair down all natural (which in other words means I look pretty close to a hippie :)!
2. I love all forms of chocolate (dark especially).
3. I do not like Tapioca...any takers? :)
4. I've had a pen-pal for 5 1/2 years who lives in Idaho. 
5. The latest movie I watched was about 30 minutes of "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" on Friday night with some of my sibilings.
6. My parents just got back from a 6 day cruise to the Bahamas.  During their time there I was in charge of the rest of the crew.  We had tons of fun (although we did miss mamma and daddy greatly)!
7. I went to Vision Forum's Father Daughter Retreat in 2007 (highly recommend this for anyone...it is definitely worth the money).  That is where I met my pen-pal and another good friend.
8. We've finally finished our new kitchen addition and bathroom.  It looks amazing!
9. I'm a blessed attender of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville.  If you want the Word powerfully and effectively preached and you live in the area definitely check it out!
10. I love playing the piano.  That is how I relieve myself if I feel anxious, frustrated, or worried.
11. Singing is also a favorite past-time (especially with my family).
12. I have two great sets of grandparents that know how to effectively spoil us all!! :)
13. We're all waiting for our cow, Halle, to calve.  Should be any day!
14. We recently dispatched a fox that was harassing (eating) or chickens. Grrrrr. Hopefully it doesn't have a mate or babies!
15. My mamma is expecting a baby in April and I can't wait!!

Have a blessed week!
I leave you with a verse from this morning's sermon.

"being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;"
Philippians 1:6

Learning to delight in Jesus,
Hannah
  

A Shadow

I have a shadow.  Actually I have many shadows but I'm only focusing on one today. :)

I know we all have one if we stand just right in the sun but my shadow is real.  It is living and posseses a spirit which must be raised in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.  My shadow has not yet reached the full potential God has prepared for him but is currently learning from me!  Whoa, that's scary!!  What I say and how I act is what he will think is okay to say and to act, for but a little while.  I can only take my little shadow as close to God as I am.  One day this shadow will grow too big to stay under me and will start following God's ways not mine and then he too will have a shadow (or shadows).  Until then I have a responsibility to my shadow.  Am I being influencial to my shadow for good or evil?  Is he developing a relationship with God even at this age or do I insist he's too young to really understand?

 c

 My shadow is my blonde-haired, blue-eyed little brother and it's quite an assignment!

 

Do you have a shadow?

Learning to delight in Jesus,

Hannah

Verses from this week

"Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered."
Psalm 32:1

"For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning."
Psalm 30:5

"Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, till He comes and rains righteousness on you."
Hosea 10:13

"An in this I give advice; It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a  year ago; but now you also much complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have."
2 Corinthians 8:10-11

"And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord, it shall rejoice in His salvation, I will give you thanks in the great assembly; I will praise you among many people.  and my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness and of Your praise all the day long."
Psalm 35:9,18,28

Learning to delight in Jesus,
Hannah

What to be

Over the years I have made a list of the things a godly man would want to see in a godly woman.  Far too often I think we place higher standards on the young men we desire to marry than on ourselves.  If we desire a godly man then we must know that he too will be desiring a godly woman.  Below are a couple of attributes and virtues that I wrote down and desire to fulfill in my life.

~ A deep personal relationship with Jesus Christ
"Let no one despise your youth but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity."  1 Timothy 4:12
~ Wisdom
"Wisdom is the principle thing; therefore get wisdom..."  Proverbs 4:7a
~ Patience
"Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen you heart; wait, I say, on the Lord."  Psalm 27:14
~ A woman of prayer
"Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation..."  Matthew 26:41a
~ Joy
"Rejoice in the Lord always.  Again I will say, rejoice!"  Philippians 4:4
~ Good relationships with parents and siblings
"Honor you father and mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, that your days may be long and that i may be well with you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you."  Deuteronomy 5:16
~ Knowledge (and application) of the Word
"...in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so."  Acts 17:11b
~ Diligence
"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."  2 Timothy 2:15
~ Submissiveness
"Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders.  Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.""  2 Peter 5:5
~ Purity (physical, emotional, and spiritual)
"He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully."  Psalm 24:4
~ Beauty in the heart
"Do not let your adornment be merely outward...rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God."  1 Peter 3:3a-4

There are many more but I don't want to give them all away ;).  The main point of it all is to look like Jesus.  If our desire to live for, please, and honor Him we can't go wrong.  Following Jesus is easy...all you have to do is follow :)!

Learning to delight in Jesus,
Hannah 

A Little Study on Worship

What is worship?  Is it a frame of mind or a flow of emotions?  Below is a little bit of what I found in the Scriptures about worship.  :)

1. Worship is giving praise to the One Who is Worthy!

"Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous!  For praise from the upright is beautiful."
Psalm 33:1
"You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created."
Revelation 4:11

2. Worship is a form of declaration!

"The Lord lives!  Blessed by my Rock!  Let God be exalted, the Rock of my salvation!."
2 Samuel 22:47
"And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!""
John 20:28

3. Worship is realizing who I am in the presence of a Holy God!

"But I am a worm, and no man;"
Psalm 22:6a
"So I said: "Woe is me, for I am undone!  Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.""
Isaiah 6:5
"When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.""
Luke 5:8

Sadly, I think that a large amount of Gods' people in America don't really understand true worship.  Even I'm not sure if I really understand the way God wants to be worshiped.  Far too often we find "entertainment" more appealing.  The question I asked myself today is "do I worship God in the way He desires me to?".  "Why does it matter?" some may ask.  It matters to me because I know that I was created for Him and I want to please Him!  Just like I love my earthly father and desires to please him in my actions/words.  Worship comes in many different forms (music, sacrifice, obedience, our lives, etc.) but they are all equal in purpose- to glorify and honor the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords!

May He find our lives in a constant form of worship!
Learning to delight in Jesus,
Hannah   

Life

This life is a race.  It's hard, it's fast, and then it's over.  The Scripture says that our life is "a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away." (James 4:14)  The question I have been asking myself frequently is am I using this life and the time given to me by God, wisely?  If I could look back at the end of my life and see all of my "successes" would they be to the glory of God or for the furtherance of my own personal goals?  No one knows the day or the hour in which they'll be called home.  That is why Paul urged the believers in Colosse to do everything heartily, as unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23).  I know for me it is hard to remember that verse during the business of every day.  But God is merciful and remembers that I am but dust.  Although He does not lower His standard I am comforted with the knowledge that He is indeed here, walking beside me and assisting me along the way.

I leave us with one last question:  If we knew we only had a year to live would the way we live our lives look different?

Learning to delight in Jesus,
Hannah

Waiting

Last Wednesday a kind lady at church came up and gave me a gift bag after service.  She said that she tried to give every high school graduate this devotional book (Streams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman) and she hoped I would enjoy it.  Later I read the devotional for that day and it brought tears to my eyes.  It just seemed to speak to the place where I am right now in my life.  Below is the poem that was at the end of the devotion.  I hope it blesses one of you today as much as it blessed me!

"I longed to walk along an easy road,
And leave behind the dull routine of home,
Thinking in other fields to serve my God;
But Jesus said, "My time has not yet come."

I longed to sow the seed in other soil,
To be unshackled in the work, and free,
To join with other laborers in their toil;
But Jesus said, "It's not My choice for thee."

I longed to leave the desert, and be led
To work where souls were sunk in sin and shame,
that I might win them; but the Master said,
"I have not called you, publish here My name."

I longed to fight the battles of my King,
Lift high His standards in the thickest strife;
But my great Captain had me wait and sing
Songs of His conquests in my quiet life.

I longed to leave the hard and difficult sphere,
Where all alone I seemed to stand and wait,
To feel I had some human helper near,
But Jesus had me guard one lonely gate.

I longed to leave the common daily toil,
Where no one seemed to understand or care;
But Jesus said, "I choose for you this soil,
That you might raise for Me some blossoms rare."

And now I have no longing but to do
At home, or far away, His blessed will,
To work amid the many or the few;
Thus, "choosing not to choose," my heart is still.

Pilgrim's Progress 

What a sweet, convicting reminder!
Learning to delight in Jesus,
Hannah 

Book Review: "It's (not that) Complicated"

I'm sure most of you have heard of Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin's new book, "It's (not that) Complicated".  I wasn't certain if I would like it or not.  Their previous book had been difficult to read (not that the writing was bad but the content was overwhelming, in my opinion) although I did learn a lot.  I was pleasantly surprised by the simple truths and everyday examples given in their newest book.  It is easy to read, easy to understand, and more down to earth.
It's (not that) Complicated tackles the important subjects that every girl needs to have an opinion on.  The Botkin sisters do a very good job of addressing the underlying issues in many relationships in today's society.  The simple truths they share from the Scripture will open your eyes to a whole new way of looking at the "tough" relationships.  Instead of always being led by your emotions and allowing your heart to lead you, they challenge you to lead your heart.  While the rest of the world either goes searching for a guy or sits waiting for a guy, you are encouraged to simply follow God.  When your heart is in the right place then your thoughts will be in the right place and then your actions will be right.  They're all linked together.  The biggest thing I took away from this book was that if my relationship with God is right then my relationship with everyone else will be right.  I don't need to follow a list of rules and regulations in order to make sure I "stay pure".  If I am anxious to please, honor, and glorify my King in everything I do (including relationships) then His Spirit will lead me in the ways in which I should walk.
Some of the topics covered in this book are:
~ How to be a better sister to your brothers
~ How important it is that you have a good relationship with your parents
~ How you can prepare to be the wife a godly man would want
~ How to interact and communicate effectively to young men (in all purity)
~ What to do until he comes
And so much more!  One thing I really liked about this book was it's inside tips and explanations from everyday young men.  It really helped me to understand what men think about girls and how they think in general.

I highly encourage every young woman to read this book.  It will be challenging, it will be convicting, and hopefully it will be life-changing.
May the Lord bless you all this week!
Learning to delight in Jesus,
Hannah